Machine for printing postage stamps



F. T. woon 1,965,757

MACHINE FOR PRINTING POSTAGE STAMPS Filed March l5, 19:52*` 2 Sheets-Sheet l 12, n *l (V ff m QI 21 if; m :Ill I I J ATTORNEY.

July 10, 1934. F. T. woon MACHINE FOR PRINTING POSTAGE STAMPS Fiied Maron 15. -19s2 2 sheets-sheet 2 n r.- l-rle INVENT /w/(l/ ATTORNEY g8. j M

Patented July 10, 1934 MACHINE FOR PRINTING POSTAGE STAMPS Frank Wood, New York, N. Y., assignor to American Bank Note Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application March 15, 1932, SerialNo. 598,907

6 Claims.

My invention relates to a machine for printing postage stamps, and more particulariy to a machine by which the designs of the stamps are impressed upon a sheet of paper, and simultaneously with the making of the impression, the sheet is pierced so that in a subsequent operation upon a perforating machine, the impressions will be accurately located in relation to the punches of the perforating machine thus avoiding possibility of lapping, or irregularity in the position of, the lines of openings resulting from succeeding operations of the perforating machine.

In the production of postage stamps, it is a common practice to impress a design consisting of four hundred stamps upon a single sheet of paper, the impression being made from an engrayed steel plate. Each of the stamps is an exact replica of every other and are ordinarily a1- ranged in groups of one hundred. The stamps of each group are arranged in rows equally spaced from each other, the stamps of each roW being equally spaced from those in adjacent rows. Each group of designs may be spaced from the adjacent groups a distance greater than that between the designs of any group, so as to afford a wide edge margin on each group when the different groups are separated from each other, the stamps ordinarily being delivered to the public in groups of one hundred each or in fractional portions of such a group.

Prior to my invention, following the making of the impression upon each sheet, the sheet was fed to a perforating machine, the operator positioning the sheet by alining some row of stamps with a wire gauge so as to assure accuracy in the locating of the perforations in the spacesvbetween the stamps of each row. Each complete sheet has cross perforations and any inaccuracy in the loeating of the sheet in relation to the perforating punches inevitably resulted, not only in the improper locating of the perforations in relation to each stamp impression, but at the points of intersection of the perpendicular lines of perforations, there was an overlapping of perforations, or an undesirable bunching or grouping of the perforations.

With the above conditions in mind, I have deviseda machine for printing postage stamps by' means of which the proper locating or feeding of each sheet in the perforating machine is assured, by providing each printed sheet with register openings for determining its position in relation to the punches in the perforating machine. These l openings areraccurately positioned with relation to the impression upon the sheet, by being formed (Cl. IUI- 153) by the members of the printing couple simultaneously with the making of the impression upon the sheet. For securing the desired results, I provide a machine wherein the plate cylinder and the impression cylinder or D-roll are provided with cooperating punches and punch plates.

In the machine of the invention, the punch plates or platens are carried by and secured to the makeready of the impression cylinder or D- roll, and the perforating punches are carried by the engraved steel plate adjacent the side edges thereof and extend from this plate inwardly of the cylinder, opening into one of the slots utilized in mounting the clamp dogs engaging the` plate so that planchets cut from succeeding sheets of paper being printed, ultimately are delivered within said slot, no clamp dog being used inthe slot receiving the perforating punches. By this construction of machine, perforations are formed adjacent opposite edges of each sheet during theA making of the impression upon that sheet, thus assuring accuracy in the location ofthe perforations in relation to the various groups of impressions upon the sheet.Y These perforations are adapted to inclose pegs carriedV upon the platen or punch board of the perforating machine, thus ensuring accurate location of the sheet upon this board and avoiding possibility of the failure of the operator of the perforating machine to properly locate the sheet.

By the machine ofthe invention, not only isV absolute accuracy in the locating of the edge perforations of the sheet in relation to the impressions upon Ythe sheet ensured, but the Sheet v is printed and pierced in one operation, thus permitting the production of such printed sheets without additional expense as compared with ordinary printed sheets. y

Means are also provided by which the planchets cut from each sheet of paper are prevented from escaping from the slot into which the punchV opens, which feature is particularly desirable in a rotary steel plate printing machine wherein centripetal action, suction and gravity actA to cause such planchets to pass from the slot andA iiyabout other mechanisms in a manner tol interfere with the proper inking and wiping of the plate.

V'Ihe invention Vconsists in a machine having certain novel structural characteristics by which sheets may beproduced in the manner described, all' as hereinafter set'forth 7and described and more particularly pointed out in the claims heretoA appended. y f -W' Referringv to the drawings,

lio

Fig.`1 shows a fragmentary portion of the plate cylinder of a steel plate engraving machine with a plate thereon;

Fig. 2 is an end view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a section upon a larger scale showing a portion of the impression cylinder or D-roll and a portion of the plate cylinder;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of a portion of one end of the cylinder and an adjacent part at the edge of the plate thereon;

Fig. 5 is a View of one edge of the impression cylinder or D-roll showing the manner of forming the punch plate and attaching it to the cylinder makeready;

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a laterally and longitudinally condensed view of a completed printed sheet; and

Fig. 8 is a side view of such a sheet mounted upon the punch plate or platen of the perforating machine.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views. j

By means of a machine embodying .the invention, I impress upon a sheet of paper a plurality of replica impressions arranged in rows perpendicular to each other and so positioned as to leave marginal spaces between the impressions in each row and between adjacent rows. Simultaneously with the making of this impression, I pierce the sheet at widely divergent points thereof in predetermined positions in relation to the impressions thereon so that the operator of a perforating machine, by slipping the openings thus formed in the sheet, over pegs upon the punch plate or platen of the perforating machine, will so locate the sheet that the spaces between impressions in the same row or between impressions in adjacent rows, will not only be accurately alined in relation to the punches of the perforating machine, but the sheet, in its entirety, will be so positioned as to assure the perforations is possible to produce a printed sheet in a form accuracy in the location of the openings in relaing from end to end of the cylinder and opening which will ensure great accuracy in the locating of each sheet when feeding it in the perforating machine, and to complete the production of the sheet by a single operation thusensuring extreme tion to the impressions, not 'only as to each sheet, but as to all sheets produced. Y

In producing sheets having the above characteristics, I employ a steel plate printing machine, which as shown in the accompanying drawings, comprises a plate cylinder l0 and an impression cylinder 11. A plate cylinder, as shown in the drawings, is provided with a plurality ofr longitudinal extending'slots 12 extendoutwardly thereof. 'Ihese slots are for the reception of clamp dogs forming a part o the means securing the plate tothe cylinder. `The cylinder carries an engraved steel plate 1,3, having impressed thereon a multiplicity of replica stampl designs arranged in rows perpendicular to each other,.andordinarily divided in four groups of yone hundredV each, the groups, if desired, being g spaced apart as shown in Fig. 7 vof the drawings.

This, however, is a matter of choice, since all of the stamp impressions may be spaced equally in relation to those in the same, and those in adjoining rows.

The horizontal rows of stamp designs, those extending longitudinally of the cylinder l0, are indicated at 14 and the rows perpendicular thereto, at 15. The vertical marginal spacings between the stamps of each row are indicated at 16, while the corresponding horizontal spacings between different rows of stamps are indicated at 17. The Vertical spacings between the groups of stamps are indicated at 18, while the horivzontal spacings between the groups of stamps is indicated at 18a. Spaces 19-l9a having no design impressed thereon, are present at each side edge of the plate.

rIhe plate 13 at each side thereof is drilled as shown at 20 and 21, the openings thus formed extending entirely through the plate. The location of these openings is determined by the position of the designs upon the plate and by the requirements of the feeding mechanism of the perforating machine. The openings 20 and 21 are ilared inwardly of the plate as shown more particularly at 20a in Fig. 3 of the drawings, thus causing the opening at the top of the plate to be of smaller diameter than towards the bottom of the plate. The portion of the opening of the larger diameter is tapped as shown.

Secured to the plate by means of the screw threaded portions of the openings 20 and 21, are hollow paper punches 22 and 23, the cutting edges of which project through the reduced outlet of the openings 20 and 21 to an extent to ensure the desired punching action upon each sheet during the making of the impression thereon. The bore of the punch adjacent its cutting edge is such as to secure the removal of a disc of the desired diameter, but toward the bottom .i

of the punch the bore is enlarged so as to permit the free escape of the planchets from the punch. The plate 13 is so located upon the cylinder 10 that the punches will project within one of the slots 12 thus ensuring the delivery of the planchets to, and their accumulation within, this slot.

Each punch is provided with an angular head 24 to facilitate its attachment to the plate which may be either before or after the plate is in position upon the plate cylinder 10, preferably the latter the screw threaded exterior of the punch has a lock nut 25 thereon for avoiding possibility of loss of adjustment of the punch as a result of the vibrations about the machine.

The openings shown at 26 are merely for the purpose of facilitating the escape of the planchets from the bore of the punch.

By mounting the punches 22 and 23 directly upon the plate, I am enabled to secure these punches in relation to the plate cylinder 10 and yet permit any necessary movement of the plate upon the cylinder during the makeready of the machine without possibility of any loss of accuracy in the positioning of the openings in a printed sheet, in relation to the designs thereon.

By so mounting the punches, I also avoid the necessity of any complicated devices for securing adjustment of the punch in relation to the stamp designs upon the plate, and unnecessary cutting of the plates to permit such adjustment.

' The dimensions of the punches are such as to permit a proper locating thereof in relation to the stamp y:designs while affording ample clearltd@ i The portion of the metal plate 31 contacting with ance about the mouth of the slot to permit the mounting of the plate upon the cylinder.

In the machine of the invention, the impression cylinder or D-roll 11 is `provided with the usual cylinder boards 27 and the usual blanket 28. The makeready board27 is slotted as shown at 29, and the side edge of the board adjacent said slot is provided with a laterally extending tongue 30. Passed through the slot 29 is a thin metal plate 3l having its edges folded outwardly and drawn tight upon the board adjacent its edges and the opposite sides of the tongue 30. 'Ihe tongue 30 is of a length to project in its entirety beyond the edge of the plate 13 so that rivets or eyelets 32 may be passed through the metal plate and the tongue to secure the plate firmly in position` The board 27vaffords a firm` but slightly yieldable backing for the metal sheet. The metal of this sheet in actual practice is about .010 of an inch so that the thickness of the makeready at this point will be increased by .020, unless the material of the board 27 coinciding with the area of the plate engaging therewith, be slightly reduced to avoid this increased thickness.

the body of the makeready board affords a punch plate or platen co-acting with a punch 22 orv 23. The portion of the blanket 28 adjacent each punch plate or platen may be cut away or the blanket may be made throughout of a width less than the machine the planchets cut from succeeding sheets of paper ultimately pass through the bore of the punches 22 and 23 and escape within the slot 12, in which the lower portion of these punches is located. While this slot maybe closed below' the printing portion of the plate by ller blocks, the opposite ends of the slot are free of obstruction to permit the delivery of the planchets to and their accumulation in said slot. The movement of the plate cylinder, and vibration about the machine has a normal tendency to permit the escape of these planchets from the slot which is undesirable since they would be apt to settle upon the inking rollers, the wipingY and polishing cloths and upon other parts of the machine, which would interfere with the proper functioning vof the machine as a whole.

To avoid this condition, I provide means closing the ends of the slot 12, and the top thereof. between the ends of the cylinder and the edgesY of the plate 13. -This means preferably consists of a strip of heavy gummed paper 33, secured to the periphery of the cylinder and the-end thereof in a manner to close the slot 12;- This closure means may be readily removed when it is desired to remove the planchets from vthe slot,. and may be readily replaced preparatory to av resumption of a run of the machine. Other removable closure means may be provided, if desired, although the gummed strip isa simple,'}inexpensive and effective expedient.

Dogs securing the plate 13 uponthe cylinder 10 are shown atv 34, these dogs entering a recess' in the edge of the plate'of a dimension longitudinally of V'the cylinder to avoidpossibility. of.'

movement of the plate circumferentially of the cylinder. 1 i' Y As shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings, the'edge register perforations V36 are located adjacent the edgeinargins of the sheet of paper 35. The inked impressions upon the sheet of paper are indicated at 37. In Fig. 8, the pegs adapted to be inclosedL by the register openings 36V are shown at 38 and the punch board of the perforating machine at 39. l

The operation of the herein described machine, is substantially Aas followsz- During the makeready of the machine, a plate 13v is' mounted upon the cylinder 10 and rmly secured thereto by means of dogs 34.. If desired,

before mounting the plate upon Ythe cylinder,

the punches 22 and23V maybe secured to the plate inthe manner above described, although their location in the slot 12 makes-the edge of the plate readily accessible for the Ypurpose of securing the 4punches thereto after the plate is secured upon the-cylinder.

Machines of the type illustrated in the drawings are provided with means whereby the forward edge of the plate may be adjusted in relation to the impression cylinder or D-roll by impart-ing movement to the. plate cylinder.l frThis permits reasonable accuracy inthe locating of the punch plate 31, the metal sheet of lthis plate being of a length in arc of :the impression cylin- :v

der or D-roll to avoid the necessity for any extreme nicety in such adjustment.

The screw threaded connection between the punches and the plate, and the use of the lock nuts 25 permits the adjustment of the cutting .i

sure cuts a planchetfrom the paper sheetj 35 i adjacenteachv edge thereof, leaving an opening 36 in the paper sheet having a definite relation to the inked impressions 37 upon this sheet.

. As shown in FigfS of the drawings, the openings 36 are adapted tovfit over pegsA 38 carried by the punch board 39 of a perforating machine.

Since the sheet 35 is pierced to form the openings. 36 simultaneously with the making oi' the impression upon the sheet, itis obvious that the impressions 37 and the openings 35 will be identioning of the perforations in relation tothe im- 1' Apressions uponf the sheet. This accuracy in the locating'of thelinesof perforations avoids that unsightly lapping and bunching of perforations at the intersection-of, the marginal spaces about each stampV and atthe juncture of the two lines L1 of perforations, and will avoid all possibilityY ofv wastage due to an improper feeding of the printed sheets in relation to the punchesin the perforating machine. .j .f Y The cost of :equipping a printing'press in the manner herein described for the purpose of forming the register openings 36 adjacent the edges of the sheetV of paper, is negligible since the manner of mounting the punches 22 and 23 permits their interchangeable use with different plates, and at the same time permits the embodiment of the herein described improvements in the machine without so changing the plate cylinder or the impression cylinder as to interfere with classes of work other than the printing of postage stamps. Y

It is not my intention to limit the invention to the precise details of construction shown in the accompanying drawings, it being apparent that such may bevaried without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to have protected by Letters Patent, iszl. A machine for printing postage stamps embodying therein an impression cylinder or D-roll, a plate cylinder having a longitudinally extending slot opening through both ends thereof, an engraved steel plate attached to said cylinder, having thereon a plurality of perpendicularly arranged lines and rows of designs of postage stamps spaced in relation to each other to provide marginal spaces about each stamp, punch plates carried adjacent the opposite ends of said impression cylinder orD-roll, punches co-operating therewith adjacent opposite ends of said plate cylinder and of said plate positioned within and discharging into said slot, whereby simultaneously with the making of an impression upon the sheet of paper, register openings will be formed in said sheet in a predetermined, accurate lrelation to the designs upon said plate, said openings being adapted to co-operate with pegs vupon the punch board of a perforating machine to ensure accuracy in the locating of the perpendicular lines o'f perforations of said sheet, and' removable means closing the top of said slot beyond the edges of said plate and the ends of said slot, whereby planchets will be .accumulated Within said slot.

2. A machine for printing postage stamps embodying therein an impression cylinder or D-roll, a plate cylinder having a longitudinally extending slot opening outwardly ofthe ends of said cylinder, an engraved steel plate secured to said cylinder, having thereon a plurality of perpendicularly arranged lines and rows of designs of postage stamps spaced in relation to each other to provide marginal spaces about each stamp,

said plate also having screw threaded openings extending therethrough adjacent the opposite edges of said plate, punches having exterior screw threads co-operating with said screw threaded openings, whereby said punches may be passed through said openings respectively and projected, to a variable extent from the top surface of said plate, a lock nut co-operating with the threads on said punches and with said plate, and punch plates carried adjacent the opposite ends of said impression cylinder or D-roll and the opposite edges of said plate, whereby simultaneously with the making of an impression upon a sheet of paper, register openings will be formed in said sheet in a predetermined, accurate relation to the designs upon said plate, said openings being adapted to co-operate with pegsupon the punch board of a perforating machine to ensure accuracy in the locating of the perpendicular lines of perforations in said sheet. f

3. A machine for printing postage stamps embodying therein an impression cylinder or D-roll, having a makeready board provided adjacent oppositeends thereof with slots, a thin metal punch sheet passed through said slots and having folded upon, and in close engaging relation with, said makeready board, means securing said punch plate to said board, a support for a printing plate co-operating with said impression cylinder or D-roll, an engraved steel plate attached to said support and having thereon a plurality of perpendicularly arranged lines and rows of designs of postage stamps in spaced relation to each other to provide marginal spaces about each stamp, and punches carried by said plate support adjacent opposite edges of said plate and co-operating with said punch plate upon the impression cylinder or D-roll, whereby simultaneously with the making of an impressionupon a sheet of paper, register openings will be formed in said sheet in a predetermined, accurate relation to the designs upon said plate, said openings being adapted to cO-operate with pegs upon the punch board or a perforating machine to ensure accuracy in the locating of the perpendicular lines of perforations in said sheet.

4. A machine for printing postage stamps embodying therein an impression cylinder or 'D-roll, a makeready board provided adjacent opposite ends thereof with slots, a thin metal punch sheet passed through said slots and folded upon, and in close engaging relation with, said makeready board, means securing said punch plate to'said board, a plate cylinder having a longitudinally extending slot opening outwardly of the ends of said cylinder, an engraved steel plate secured to said cylinder, having thereon a plurality of perpendicularly arranged lines and rows of designs of postage stamps spaced in relation to each other to provide marginal spaces about each stamp,

said plate also having openings extending therethrough adjacent the opposite edges of said plate, punches passing through said openings and projecting beyond the top surface of said plate and co-operating with said punch plate, whereby simultaneously with the making of an impression roll, a makeready board provided adjacent opposite ends thereof with slots, a thin metal punch sheet passed through said slots and folded upon, and inclose engaging relation with, said makeready board, means securing said punch plate to said board, a plate cylinder having a longitudinally extending slot opening outwardly of the ends of said cylinder, an engraved steel plate secured to said cylinder, having thereon a plurality of perpendicularly arranged lines and rows of designs of postage stamps spaced in relation to each other to provide marginal spaces about each stamp, said plate also having screw threaded openings extending therethrough adjacent the opposite edges of said'plate, punches having exterior screw threads co-operating with said screw threaded openings, whereby said punches may be passed through said openings respectively and projected to a variable extent from the top surface of said plate, and a lock nut co-operating with the threads on said punches and with said 1- plate, whereby simultaneously with the making of an impression upon a sheet of paper, register openings Will be formed in said sheet in a predetermined, accurate relation to the designs upon said plate, said openings being adapted to cooperate With pegs upon the punch board of a perforating machine to ensure accuracy in the 1ocating of the perpendicular lines of perforations in said sheet.

6. A machine for printing postage stamps embodying therein an impression cylinder or D- roll, a makeready board provided adjacent oppo site ends thereof with a slot and tongue projecting from the side edges of the board adjacent said slots, a thin metal punch sheet passed through said slots, and folded upon, and in close engaging relation with said board and with said tongue, rivets passing through each said punch plate and its co-operating tongue, a plate cylinder having a longitudinally extending slot opening outwardly of the ends of said cylinder, an engraved steel plate secured to said cylinder, having thereon a plurality of perpendicularly arranged lines and rows of designs of postage stamps spaced in relation to each other to provide marginal spaces about each stamp, said plate also having openings extending therethrough adjacent the opposite edges of said plate, punches passing through said openings and projecting beyond the top surface of said plate and co-operating with said punch plate, whereby simultaneously with the making of an impression upon a sheet of paper, register openings willY be formed in said sheet in a predetermined, accurate relation to the designs upon said plate, said openings being adapted to co-operate with pegs upon the punch board of a perforating machine to ensure accuracy in the locating of the perpendicular lines of perforations in said sheet. FRANK T. WOOD. 

